---
title: "Vonovia sharply criticizes Berlin’s possible apartment expropriation plans"
description: "Germany's largest landlord Vonovia VNAn.DE on Wednesday sharply criticized the possible expropriation of apartments by a new state government in Berlin, calling it the \"wrong way to go\" and highly questionable legally."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "World"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-04-vonovia-sharply-criticizes-berlins-possible-apartment-expropriation-plans/"
published: "2026-11-04T11:07:22"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 139
---

# Vonovia sharply criticizes Berlin’s possible apartment expropriation plans

> Germany's largest landlord Vonovia VNAn.DE on Wednesday sharply criticized the possible expropriation of apartments by a new state government in Berlin, calling it the "wrong way to go" and highly questionable legally.

By Reuters · Published 4 November 2026, 13:07 SAST

## Content

Elif Eralp, the far-left leader pushing ​to take over as mayor of Berlin, has ​pledged to expropriate more than 200,000 housing units from corporate landlords in a campaign that ​made the party reach its best result in the ​German capital in September's election.

Vonovia CEO Luka Mucic said expropriation would provide no additional housing.

"It would be the wrong approach and send a dangerous signal about the economic strength of our entire country," he told journalists.

Berlin and other large cities have faced a housing shortage and rising rents, sparking anger and fear among voters.

"The very debate over this issue undermines confidence in property ownership, investment, and Germany as a business location overall. And in doing so, the Left Party’s plans also jeopardize our prosperity," he added.

(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi and Tom Sims, editing by Thomas Seythal)